Tell Me About Texas a&m

[Steel Shank 9428]

19 hours ago, Goofyboy said:

This is Towne Lake. Cross lake area is on the left

This makes me want to sniff the pine......sniff that cross mounted pussy down by the river.....whooooo!

[HtownHorn 14724]

Tarp giving the faithful hope with this pitiful write-up on the Clemson game.

Spoiler

A&M RUSHING OFFENSE VS CLEMSON RUSHING DEFENSE

The Aggies may have lost Williams but they'll have a bevy of talented young backs in their West Coast offense to throw at the Tigers. Sophomore Jashaun Corbin is projected as the starter and he's got good burst and more patience in terms of reading his blocks. Either Vernon Jackson (depending on his injury status) or Cordarrian Richardson will be the big back alternative to Corbin.

A&M struggled to block Clemson last season and ends Xavier Thomas and Justin Foster are athletic players who could give A&M tackles Dan Moore and Carson Green issues in space. However, Clemson's projected starters at defensive tackle, Nyles Pinckney and Jordan Williams, both missed the spring. The Tigers' projected starters at linebacker, Shaq Smith, Isaiah Simmons, and Chad Smith/James Skalski are upperclassmen and Clemson won't lose much with them...if the front four can protect the backers.

RUSHING GAME ADVANTAGE

A&M didn't run the ball very well last year but they should much better at that aspect of the game this season. Even so, they're probably not going to generate much above 100 yards and it may come in fits and spurts. 

A&M PASSING OFFENSE VS CLEMSON PASS DEFENSE

The Tigers had ten sacks last season and the Aggies only generated a downfield passing game because they wore out the Tigers' pass rush late and their receivers had their best overall game of the year. In addition, Trayveon Williams was effective on screens which served as an extension of the running game. Moore and Green needed a lot of help on the outside in 2018 and their ability to stalemate Thomas, Foster, K.J. Henry, and Logan Rudolph on the edge may well be a key to whether or not Kellen Mond will have time to get it downfield this year.

A&M's receivers probably can't make the types of catches they did in 2018 but they'll still have to win a lot of 50/50 balls because Clemson has a lot of speed and length on the back end of their defense and getting separation is difficult. Safeties K'Von Wallace and Tanner Muse are big, experienced, and will make you pay for any bad throws.

PASSING GAME ADVANTAGE

You would have to think that while A&M won't throw for as many yards as they did last season, they'll do a better job of allowing Mond to make plays from within the pocket. We'll give this one to A&M simply because they should be less pressure on Mond than last season. 

A&M RUSH DEFENSE VS CLEMSON RUSHING OFFENSE

A&M defends the running game from RPOs as well as anyone with their ability to roll their safeties into the box, slow you down on first and second down, and get you into long yardage situations. Clemson is a big RPO team and they struggled to run the ball versus A&M last season which was critical in the imbalance in time of possession. However, A&M has tended to have two high safeties more often at the snap late in 2018 due to vulnerabilities in the secondary.

The Tigers lost their two best offensive linemen including left tackle Mitch Hyatt. Big (350 pounds) Jackson Carman will be taking his spot and Clemson will have more size overall up front. A&M's replacing most of its front seven but they should match up even better from a size and athletic standpoint. The key will be the play of backers Buddy Johnson and Anthony Hines in terms of not overrunning things and filling run lanes to prevent the speedy Travis Etienne from big plays.

RUSHING GAME ADVANTAGE

We're going to give it to A&M because Mike Elko understands how to scheme against RPOs so well but if Clemson can make its experience up front work to its advantage in terms of blocking the right people, A&M has a lack of gap discipline, and the Aggies start having to compensate for issues in the back end in the passing game, then Clemson could find ways to run the ball.

A&M PASS DEFENSE VS CLEMSON PASS OFFENSE

The Aggies lost most of their pass rush from 2018 and although the secondary should be better they're going to be facing a high end quarterback and receiving corps that will challenge them more than anyone else save Alabama. Trevor Lawerence has great arm talent and vision and their RPOs enable them to generate a lot of man to man matchups down the field. They may miss Hunter Renfrow as a move the chains guy but Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross, and Amari Rodgers offer up a lot of size, ability to high point the ball, and run after the catch ability. A&M played a lot of two high looks down the stretch in 2018 but they didn't play them well until the North Carolina State game.

PASSING GAME ADVANTAGE

You have to give this to Clemson and if A&M is not careful this could be the difference in the ball game.

SPECIAL TEAMS 

A&M has most of their specialists and return people back including Braden Mann who just happens to be the world's best punter. The Tigers lose field goal kicker Greg Huegel and there's nothing special about their coverage and return units. You have to give the advantage to A&M here, especially in terms of making Clemson start drives five to ten yards deeper than they normally do.

HOW A&M WINS

Clemson has the home field advantage which is so important in college football. Moreover, their strengths match up with A&M's weaknesses, particularly in terms of generating big plays in the passing game with Lawrence and his receivers. If A&M is going to win, they're going to have to keep the Tigers from those big plays with their superior speed and probably run the ball better so that they can take a lead late into the game instead of having to expend energy coming from behind like they did last year. If they can do those things, you have to like their chances to pull the upset. 

 

[OU Sucks 8866]

13 minutes ago, HtownHorn said:

Quote

If A&M is going to win, they're going to have to keep the Tigers from those big plays with their superior speed and probably run the ball better so that they can take a lead late into the game instead of having to expend energy coming from behind like they did last year.

 

Yes, because we all know if anyone can take care of leads, it's aggy.

Edited May 13, 2019 by OU Sucks

[Leanderman 2275]

Thank you for the Monday morning comic relief article. 

[Magus Ossis 2802]

Prediction: Clemson will rout aggy so thoroughly that a few of the faithful will actually express doubts about Fisher— failure to progress from last year etc. Those few will be in full getting-threads-deleted mode by Q3 of the Bama game.

Edited May 13, 2019 by Magus Ossis

[Carl Spackler 3486]

So aggy has the advantage over the defending NC in 4 of the 5 areas analyzed by that article.  Clemson obviously doesn't stand a chance.

[Valmy77 13243]

Quote

A&M didn't run the ball very well last year but they should much better at that aspect of the game this season.

Because...teams always improve year to year?

[SwanderedTalent 5761]

1 hour ago, HtownHorn said:

However, Clemson's projected starters at defensive tackle, Nyles Pinckney and Jordan Williams, both missed the spring.

oh, wow, well in that case Clemson sucks, 7-6 record ahoy

[Spawn of Cthulhu 2241]

1 hour ago, Carl Spackler said:

So aggy has the advantage over the defending NC in 4 of the 5 areas analyzed by that article.  Clemson obviously doesn't stand a chance.

Don't forget that they're playing at Kyle East. It's in the bag.

[Pato del Muerto 52524]

Tad Dean ain’t walking through that door. 

[Modessit 5603]

That loss will be so bad, Jimbo will get a racist letter from a Houston country club.

[EastTexan 662]

2 minutes ago, Modessit said:

That loss will be so bad, Jimbo will get a racist letter from a Houston country club.

 

2 minutes ago, Modessit said:

That loss will be so bad, Jimbo will get a racist letter from a Houston country club.

You need to retread tarp 's musings. Stupid 'sip!

[Tex Pete 20399]

10 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

Tad Dean ain’t walking through that door. 

Jad. Like a dagger to the heart. 

[texifornia 57000]

When you misspell "whorns" on a women's sports conversation you look like a real scumbag, dontcha Frank?

[Spawn of Cthulhu 2241]

8 minutes ago, Tex Pete said:

Jad. Like a dagger to the heart. 

He was never the same after his Stingray started to swerve.

[texaslong 678]

59 minutes ago, texifornia said:

When you misspell "whorns" on a women's sports conversation you look like a real scumbag, dontcha Frank?

And none of the aggys will see anything wrong with what he said. Just like when they told the visiting black students to go home and they didn’t belong here, cause they were wearing a Texas shirt. They have no self awareness.

[miguelito 11266]

Not to mention, the schools in that part of the bracket are all pretty close to one another.  It's not like they moved the moon and stars to get that potential matchup.

[ButtFumble 5180]

A&M PASSING OFFENSE VS CLEMSON PASS DEFENSE

The Tigers had ten sacks last season and the Aggies only generated a downfield passing game because they wore out the Tigers' pass rush late and their receivers had their best overall game of the year.

 

I love the old rope a dope.......let them sack our QB a shit load until they are worn out and tired of it and then victory!

pay no attention to your QB getting all fucked up by those sacks

Edited May 13, 2019 by ButtFumble

[happyhookem 224]

6 hours ago, HtownHorn said:

and it may come in fits and spurts. 

 

Mine does.

[SwanderedTalent 5761]

14 hours ago, ButtFumble said:

A&M PASSING OFFENSE VS CLEMSON PASS DEFENSE

The Tigers had ten sacks last season and the Aggies only generated a downfield passing game because they wore out the Tigers' pass rush late and their receivers had their best overall game of the year.

 

I love the old rope a dope.......let them sack our QB a shit load until they are worn out and tired of it and then victory!

pay no attention to your QB getting all fucked up by those sacks

where does it leave A&M this fall if Mond gets planted into the turf and can't play anymore, a la Sam Bradford in 2009?

[UT_CU 12]

Quote

A&M RUSH DEFENSE VS CLEMSON RUSHING OFFENSE

...Clemson will have more size overall up front. A&M's replacing most of its front seven but they should match up even better from a size and athletic standpoint.

RUSHING GAME ADVANTAGE

We're going to give it to A&M because Mike Elko...

Let me see if I have this right:  aggy is openly admitting the defending NC team's OL is larger, returning more talent, which is now more experienced, and playing at home...but "advantage aggy" b/c their DC is the bestest.

The same DC who, in one of Clemson's worst games of the season, still managed to give up 125yds (at +/- 4.8 per pop) on the ground at Kroger Field.

 

[UTEX90 589]

Sophomore Jashaun Corbin is projected as the starter and he's got good burst and more patience in terms of reading his blocks.

More patience in terms of reading blocks = Slow to hit the hole.  Advantage aggy.

 

[Guest]

21 hours ago, Leanderman said:

Thank you for the Monday morning comic relief article. 

That’s what this entire thread is..

Unbelievably reliable.

[DigglerontheHoof 21202]

iIt really is the most reliable thread on surly, as far as "look at stoopid people and laugh" goes.  

Edited May 14, 2019 by DigglerontheHoof

[SwanderedTalent 5761]

there was never any chance that after coming close against Clemson last year, A&M fans were going to be even remotely realistic about the rematch

keep in mind that if it had been 42-14, a third of A&M's fans would have expected a win the next year anyway because "WE'S DUE!!!!"

you make it 28-26 and that number goes to two-thirds-- doesn't matter who adds what, loses what, where the game's played, etc. it was close last year and Aggies want to win therefore advantage A&M in 2019

[utee94 15832]

11 minutes ago, SwanderedTalent said:

there was never any chance that after coming close against Clemson last year, A&M fans were going to be even remotely realistic about the rematch

keep in mind that if it had been 42-14, a third of A&M's fans would have expected a win the next year anyway because "WE'S DUE!!!!"

you make it 28-26 and that number goes to two-thirds-- doesn't matter who adds what, loses what, where the game's played, etc. it was close last year and Aggies want to win therefore advantage A&M in 2019

Yup.

My prediction-- Clemson's win will not be close in 2019.

[SwanderedTalent 5761]

1 minute ago, utee94 said:

Yup.

My prediction-- Clemson's win will not be close in 2019.

I stopped thinking I could predict football games with any special insight after our wet fart of a NO LUBE RAVENGE GAME!!! against Tech in 2009, so nothing will surprise me as long as Clemson wins. There's no reason A&M can't go out and play crazy "nothing to lose" football against a Clemson team that has its eye on bigger things and plays diffidently (like they did in the 2nd half last year) and keep it within 14. 

but I think if I could only pick one outcome, I'd go with Clemson 52, A&M 13, something like that. not because I think A&M is going to lose eight games or be mind-wrenchingly terrible but because Clemson seems like it literally gets better every single year and they MIGHT be annoyed hearing as much about A&M as they will leading up to the rematch

[utee94 15832]

1 minute ago, SwanderedTalent said:

I stopped thinking I could predict football games with any special insight after our wet fart of a NO LUBE RAVENGE GAME!!! against Tech in 2009, so nothing will surprise me as long as Clemson wins. There's no reason A&M can't go out and play crazy "nothing to lose" football against a Clemson team that has its eye on bigger things and plays diffidently (like they did in the 2nd half last year) and keep it within 14. 

but I think if I could only pick one outcome, I'd go with Clemson 52, A&M 13, something like that. not because I think A&M is going to lose eight games or be mind-wrenchingly terrible but because Clemson seems like it literally gets better every single year and they MIGHT be annoyed hearing as much about A&M as they will leading up to the rematch

I think the ags already had their "go out and play crazy with nothing to lose" football game against Clemson, it happened last year in their own stadium, and it got them a very close loss-win. Put it on the wall!

I think this year it's going to be a "revert to the mean" type of game and the reality is that Clemson is simply a much better football team than A&M.  And like you, I don't think A&M is going to be a bad, 4-8 type of team, actually 8-4 sounds about right to me.  But I do expect them to get beaten pretty handily by the three best teams they play, and Clemson is one of those three.

[Handcruser 2805]

But your discounting the Jimbo effect. He is the qb whisperer. This really should be 55-24 aggy. Elko, the worlds greatest DC, only allows 24 points in the final quarter with his 4th stringers in and only playing 4 guys on the field because of the range of his speedy safeties.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[SwanderedTalent 5761]

5 minutes ago, Handcruser said:

But your discounting the Jimbo effect. He is the qb whisperer. This really should be 55-24 aggy. Elko, the worlds greatest DC, only allows 24 points in the final quarter with his 4th stringers in and only playing 4 guys on the field because of the range of his speedy safeties.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

COME ON TARP BE REALISTIC!!!! evarone knows we's gonna win but we ain't gonna break 49 against em otherwise you's spot on

[Guest]

BTHO Clempsom

[ztejas 43475]

On 5/11/2019 at 10:40 AM, BurntEyes said:

With the biggest star out and the next biggest player at zero points at the half they still won with a huge second half still trailing in the 4th.

It was a very aggy like loss.

I basically equate the Rockets with aggy at this point. Minus the 2 Hakeem titles ofc. 

[C-Man 27230]

23 hours ago, HtownHorn said:

Tarp giving the faithful hope with this pitiful write-up on the Clemson game.

  Hide contents

A&M RUSHING OFFENSE VS CLEMSON RUSHING DEFENSE

The Aggies may have lost Williams but they'll have a bevy of talented young backs in their West Coast offense to throw at the Tigers. Sophomore Jashaun Corbin is projected as the starter and he's got good burst and more patience in terms of reading his blocks. Either Vernon Jackson (depending on his injury status) or Cordarrian Richardson will be the big back alternative to Corbin.

A&M struggled to block Clemson last season and ends Xavier Thomas and Justin Foster are athletic players who could give A&M tackles Dan Moore and Carson Green issues in space. However, Clemson's projected starters at defensive tackle, Nyles Pinckney and Jordan Williams, both missed the spring. The Tigers' projected starters at linebacker, Shaq Smith, Isaiah Simmons, and Chad Smith/James Skalski are upperclassmen and Clemson won't lose much with them...if the front four can protect the backers.

RUSHING GAME ADVANTAGE

A&M didn't run the ball very well last year but they should much better at that aspect of the game this season. Even so, they're probably not going to generate much above 100 yards and it may come in fits and spurts. 

A&M PASSING OFFENSE VS CLEMSON PASS DEFENSE

The Tigers had ten sacks last season and the Aggies only generated a downfield passing game because they wore out the Tigers' pass rush late and their receivers had their best overall game of the year. In addition, Trayveon Williams was effective on screens which served as an extension of the running game. Moore and Green needed a lot of help on the outside in 2018 and their ability to stalemate Thomas, Foster, K.J. Henry, and Logan Rudolph on the edge may well be a key to whether or not Kellen Mond will have time to get it downfield this year.

A&M's receivers probably can't make the types of catches they did in 2018 but they'll still have to win a lot of 50/50 balls because Clemson has a lot of speed and length on the back end of their defense and getting separation is difficult. Safeties K'Von Wallace and Tanner Muse are big, experienced, and will make you pay for any bad throws.

PASSING GAME ADVANTAGE

You would have to think that while A&M won't throw for as many yards as they did last season, they'll do a better job of allowing Mond to make plays from within the pocket. We'll give this one to A&M simply because they should be less pressure on Mond than last season. 

A&M RUSH DEFENSE VS CLEMSON RUSHING OFFENSE

A&M defends the running game from RPOs as well as anyone with their ability to roll their safeties into the box, slow you down on first and second down, and get you into long yardage situations. Clemson is a big RPO team and they struggled to run the ball versus A&M last season which was critical in the imbalance in time of possession. However, A&M has tended to have two high safeties more often at the snap late in 2018 due to vulnerabilities in the secondary.

The Tigers lost their two best offensive linemen including left tackle Mitch Hyatt. Big (350 pounds) Jackson Carman will be taking his spot and Clemson will have more size overall up front. A&M's replacing most of its front seven but they should match up even better from a size and athletic standpoint. The key will be the play of backers Buddy Johnson and Anthony Hines in terms of not overrunning things and filling run lanes to prevent the speedy Travis Etienne from big plays.

RUSHING GAME ADVANTAGE

We're going to give it to A&M because Mike Elko understands how to scheme against RPOs so well but if Clemson can make its experience up front work to its advantage in terms of blocking the right people, A&M has a lack of gap discipline, and the Aggies start having to compensate for issues in the back end in the passing game, then Clemson could find ways to run the ball.

A&M PASS DEFENSE VS CLEMSON PASS OFFENSE

The Aggies lost most of their pass rush from 2018 and although the secondary should be better they're going to be facing a high end quarterback and receiving corps that will challenge them more than anyone else save Alabama. Trevor Lawerence has great arm talent and vision and their RPOs enable them to generate a lot of man to man matchups down the field. They may miss Hunter Renfrow as a move the chains guy but Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross, and Amari Rodgers offer up a lot of size, ability to high point the ball, and run after the catch ability. A&M played a lot of two high looks down the stretch in 2018 but they didn't play them well until the North Carolina State game.

PASSING GAME ADVANTAGE

You have to give this to Clemson and if A&M is not careful this could be the difference in the ball game.

SPECIAL TEAMS 

A&M has most of their specialists and return people back including Braden Mann who just happens to be the world's best punter. The Tigers lose field goal kicker Greg Huegel and there's nothing special about their coverage and return units. You have to give the advantage to A&M here, especially in terms of making Clemson start drives five to ten yards deeper than they normally do.

HOW A&M WINS

Clemson has the home field advantage which is so important in college football. Moreover, their strengths match up with A&M's weaknesses, particularly in terms of generating big plays in the passing game with Lawrence and his receivers. If A&M is going to win, they're going to have to keep the Tigers from those big plays with their superior speed and probably run the ball better so that they can take a lead late into the game instead of having to expend energy coming from behind like they did last year. If they can do those things, you have to like their chances to pull the upset. 

 

Do these rubes not understand that Clemson's offense is COMPLETELY different with Trevor Lawrence than it was with Kelly Bryant and that they played Clemson in Week 2 (or 3)? Lawrence is going to tear aggy's secondary to shreds.

[SwanderedTalent 5761]

7 minutes ago, ztejas said:

I basically equate the Rockets with aggy at this point. Minus the 2 Hakeem titles ofc. 

I actually think Michigan is a better comparison to the Rockets than A&M-- some ancient titles, constant media attention despite never really accomplishing anything. The circa-2019 Rockets are mostly known for winning lots of games that don't mean anything and then "WE CAME CLOSE!" when it does matter.

I say that as a Rockets fan.

Edited May 14, 2019 by SwanderedTalent

[Leanderman 2275]

Clemson has a lot to prove that last year was no fluke. Here is hoping they gomers get their turds pushed in long, deep, and repeatedly.

[Machinator 32099]

1 minute ago, Leanderman said:

Clemson has a lot to prove that last year was no fluke. Here is hoping they gomers get their turds pushed in long, deep, and repeatedly.

Yes, I'm sure that people think that Clemson's second national championship in three years was a fluke.

[HtownHorn 14724]

24 minutes ago, Machinator said:

Yes, I'm sure that people think that Clemson's second national championship in three years was a fluke.

No, they have only played for 3 in the last 4 years, unlike Alabama that has played for 4. Total fluke.

[Tex Pete 20399]

1 hour ago, C-Man said:

Do these rubes not understand that Clemson's offense is COMPLETELY different with Trevor Lawrence than it was with Kelly Bryant and that they played Clemson in Week 2 (or 3)? Lawrence is going to tear aggy's secondary to shreds.

Have you ever met an aggy?

[Pato del Muerto 52524]

1 hour ago, SwanderedTalent said:

I actually think Michigan is a better comparison to the Rockets than A&M-- some ancient titles, constant media attention despite never really accomplishing anything. The circa-2019 Rockets are mostly known for winning lots of games that don't mean anything and then "WE CAME CLOSE!" when it does matter.

I say that as a Rockets fan.

You say that as a rockets fan because you’d rather be associated with Michigan than aggy. But how many Michigan fans are also rockets fans?  How many aggy are also rockets fans?

[SwanderedTalent 5761]

20 minutes ago, Pato del Muerto said:

You say that as a rockets fan because you’d rather be associated with Michigan than aggy. But how many Michigan fans are also rockets fans?  How many aggy are also rockets fans?

I just pointed out I was a Rockets fan so it didn't sound like I was a Mavs/Spurs fan shitting on the franchise. I can shit on it just fine myself.

[Modessit 5603]

I'd go with Clemson 52, A&M 13, something like that.

But what about the 2nd half?

[SwanderedTalent 5761]

5 hours ago, Modessit said:

 

 

But what about the 2nd half?

 

I predict the Aggies will claim they outplayed Clemson in it and/or "won" it

[Leanderman 2275]

What I meant in my earlier post was not about the season Clemson had but about the game with the gomers. Lighten up Francis.

[mchookem 16336]

discussion of DKR reno at work, kyle field was brought up...

does anybody have pictures handy of the 'stairs that go nowhere' and the 'triangle seat' section (the ones practically facing a wall)?

someone mentioned those and i said i'd try and find pictures

[DaggerHorns 3085]

22 minutes ago, mchookem said:

discussion of DKR reno at work, kyle field was brought up...

does anybody have pictures handy of the 'stairs that go nowhere' and the 'triangle seat' section (the ones practically facing a wall)?

someone mentioned those and i said i'd try and find pictures

[DaggerHorns 3085]

http://aggypedia.com/wiki/Kyle_Field

For the seats that have a bad ass view of the wall.

Edited May 15, 2019 by DaggerHorns
ballz

[Dennis Taylor 18830]

3 hours ago, BurntEyes said:

They claim that every game so that isn't a big stretch.

A prediction that aggy will admit to getting their ass kicked would be truly bold.

sure the first 54 minutes didn't go so well but check this play out

 

 

[TrashMaster G 17563]

5 hours ago, SwanderedTalent said:

I predict the Aggies will claim they outplayed Clemson in it and/or "won" it

Water = wet

Sun rises in the east

[Hagbard Celine 10871]

On 5/13/2019 at 12:25 PM, HtownHorn said:

Tarp giving the faithful hope with this pitiful write-up on the Clemson game.

  Hide contents

A&M RUSHING OFFENSE VS CLEMSON RUSHING DEFENSE

The Aggies may have lost Williams but they'll have a bevy of talented young backs in their West Coast offense to throw at the Tigers. Sophomore Jashaun Corbin is projected as the starter and he's got good burst and more patience in terms of reading his blocks. Either Vernon Jackson (depending on his injury status) or Cordarrian Richardson will be the big back alternative to Corbin.

A&M struggled to block Clemson last season and ends Xavier Thomas and Justin Foster are athletic players who could give A&M tackles Dan Moore and Carson Green issues in space. However, Clemson's projected starters at defensive tackle, Nyles Pinckney and Jordan Williams, both missed the spring. The Tigers' projected starters at linebacker, Shaq Smith, Isaiah Simmons, and Chad Smith/James Skalski are upperclassmen and Clemson won't lose much with them...if the front four can protect the backers.

RUSHING GAME ADVANTAGE

A&M didn't run the ball very well last year but they should much better at that aspect of the game this season. Even so, they're probably not going to generate much above 100 yards and it may come in fits and spurts. 

A&M PASSING OFFENSE VS CLEMSON PASS DEFENSE

The Tigers had ten sacks last season and the Aggies only generated a downfield passing game because they wore out the Tigers' pass rush late and their receivers had their best overall game of the year. In addition, Trayveon Williams was effective on screens which served as an extension of the running game. Moore and Green needed a lot of help on the outside in 2018 and their ability to stalemate Thomas, Foster, K.J. Henry, and Logan Rudolph on the edge may well be a key to whether or not Kellen Mond will have time to get it downfield this year.

A&M's receivers probably can't make the types of catches they did in 2018 but they'll still have to win a lot of 50/50 balls because Clemson has a lot of speed and length on the back end of their defense and getting separation is difficult. Safeties K'Von Wallace and Tanner Muse are big, experienced, and will make you pay for any bad throws.

PASSING GAME ADVANTAGE

You would have to think that while A&M won't throw for as many yards as they did last season, they'll do a better job of allowing Mond to make plays from within the pocket. We'll give this one to A&M simply because they should be less pressure on Mond than last season. 

A&M RUSH DEFENSE VS CLEMSON RUSHING OFFENSE

A&M defends the running game from RPOs as well as anyone with their ability to roll their safeties into the box, slow you down on first and second down, and get you into long yardage situations. Clemson is a big RPO team and they struggled to run the ball versus A&M last season which was critical in the imbalance in time of possession. However, A&M has tended to have two high safeties more often at the snap late in 2018 due to vulnerabilities in the secondary.

The Tigers lost their two best offensive linemen including left tackle Mitch Hyatt. Big (350 pounds) Jackson Carman will be taking his spot and Clemson will have more size overall up front. A&M's replacing most of its front seven but they should match up even better from a size and athletic standpoint. The key will be the play of backers Buddy Johnson and Anthony Hines in terms of not overrunning things and filling run lanes to prevent the speedy Travis Etienne from big plays.

RUSHING GAME ADVANTAGE

We're going to give it to A&M because Mike Elko understands how to scheme against RPOs so well but if Clemson can make its experience up front work to its advantage in terms of blocking the right people, A&M has a lack of gap discipline, and the Aggies start having to compensate for issues in the back end in the passing game, then Clemson could find ways to run the ball.

A&M PASS DEFENSE VS CLEMSON PASS OFFENSE

The Aggies lost most of their pass rush from 2018 and although the secondary should be better they're going to be facing a high end quarterback and receiving corps that will challenge them more than anyone else save Alabama. Trevor Lawerence has great arm talent and vision and their RPOs enable them to generate a lot of man to man matchups down the field. They may miss Hunter Renfrow as a move the chains guy but Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross, and Amari Rodgers offer up a lot of size, ability to high point the ball, and run after the catch ability. A&M played a lot of two high looks down the stretch in 2018 but they didn't play them well until the North Carolina State game.

PASSING GAME ADVANTAGE

You have to give this to Clemson and if A&M is not careful this could be the difference in the ball game.

SPECIAL TEAMS 

A&M has most of their specialists and return people back including Braden Mann who just happens to be the world's best punter. The Tigers lose field goal kicker Greg Huegel and there's nothing special about their coverage and return units. You have to give the advantage to A&M here, especially in terms of making Clemson start drives five to ten yards deeper than they normally do.

HOW A&M WINS

Clemson has the home field advantage which is so important in college football. Moreover, their strengths match up with A&M's weaknesses, particularly in terms of generating big plays in the passing game with Lawrence and his receivers. If A&M is going to win, they're going to have to keep the Tigers from those big plays with their superior speed and probably run the ball better so that they can take a lead late into the game instead of having to expend energy coming from behind like they did last year. If they can do those things, you have to like their chances to pull the upset. 

 

i didn't see any reference to Sitting National Champions

[South Austin 52519]

17 minutes ago, Dennis Taylor said:

sure the first 54 minutes didn't go so well but check this play out

 

 

aggy doesn’t lose, they just run out of meaningless on-the-field celebrations.